FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The future holds big expectations for Fresno State's new Athletic Director Garrett Klassy, expectations he and his peers believe he will exceed as Fresno State's Fall 2024 semester approaches. On June 28, Fresno State held a press conference with University President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval and Fresno State's new Athletic Director. In mid-June, Fresno State announced they had hired Klassy as the new Athletic Director, to help usher them into a new age. President Sandoval says he is pleased to have Klassy manning the helm of Fresno State's Athletic Department. He says Klassy's proven work ethic and values line up perfectly with the university's identity and the future Sandoval envisions for Fresno State. "I see two main pillars that hold up who Garret Klassy is," Sandoval said. "He has his gifted intellect and leadership skills, and then on the other hand, he's humble and he's hard-working." Klassy says he appreciates the opportunity to work alongside Sandoval and is excited to have the chance to take Fresno State to another level. "I just want to express a heartfelt gratitude to you, President Jimenez Sandoval," Klassy said. "This is an incredible opportunity to leave a storied program to wake the sleeping giant - and really take us down a unique path given the changes in college athletics." Klassy also thanked the search committee for getting him to Fresno State and his many mentors who helped put him in a position to lead Fresno State Athletics for what Klassy hopes will be many fruitful years. "Starting out with the people at the University of Houston - Nebraska, Oregon, and my parents." Klassy says the lessons passed down to him are the same ones he hopes to pass on to the athletes at Fresno State. "Why do I do what I do? Given how many [Fresno State] graduates stay in the valley we have to create difference makers that can contribute to society and to the valley," Klassy said. "Not only champions on the field, but also champions in life."